The art and science of cultivating the earth, growing crops, and tending to livestock fall under the umbrella of agriculture. Through it, one can create a multitude of products, including food, fabrics, wood, and more. The agriculture industry has grown to a vast extent, letting individuals study it and pick from numerous career paths. For those considering a career in agriculture, here’s a guide that may help make a decision.
Types of agriculture
Two popular types of agriculture are subsistence farming and commercial agriculture. The objective of subsistence farming is to grow food to feed one’s own family or community. It relies primarily on human and animal labor, with limited mechanization.
Commercial agriculture is more prevalent in our country, where every stage of farming is made efficient to keep costs in check and earn a profit. Most operations are carried out using advanced technology.
The regulatory board
Before getting to the courses and careers in agriculture, one should know about the board that regulates the industry. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) ensures that agricultural technology keeps improving. It promotes the development of sensors, systems, and advanced devices for farming and other forms of agriculture. Furthermore, the NIFA supports applied research that determines how to employ technologies economically, with minimal disruption to current practices. The institution also provides assistance and instructions to farmers, helping them understand newer technologies.
Agriculture technology
Agriculture technology has helped farms become more modern than ever. Today, individuals in the industry use complex machines, including temperature and moisture sensors, robots, aerial imagery, and GPS technology, to grow crops. Such advanced systems enable businesses to become more efficient and profitable. Farmers no longer manually spray water, fertilizer, and pesticides across fields but leave it to the equipment. This helps them utilize minimum resources, focus on specific areas, and uniquely treat individual plants.
A few benefits of agriculture technology are better safety for workers, improved crop productivity, and efficiency. Its most significant advantage is perhaps a lower impact on the natural ecosystem. Technology helps prevent chemical runoff into rivers and groundwater and reduces the utilization of fertilizer, pesticides, and water, keeping food prices in check.
Courses in agriculture
Individuals who decide to take up agriculture can pursue varied levels of degrees. For instance, one could get a certification in a particular area of agriculture (this could take a year or two), followed by a four-year college education like a bachelor of science (BS) or bachelor of arts (BA) degree. Those looking for an advanced course could pursue a master’s degree or Ph.D. in various aspects of agriculture.
Associate degree
An associate degree or certificate focuses primarily on farming techniques. A few topics likely to be covered are soil management, crop science, marketing, and livestock management.
Bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree in agriculture studies mainly focuses on the management of agricultural and farming operations, or the business side of things. Consequently, it may cover livestock management, food and marketing, research and statistics, and microeconomics.
Master’s degree
A master’s degree is intended for people who want to excel in management or teach agriculture. It focuses on a specific study area and may also involve an internship.
Ph.D. degrees
Those interested in high-level positions in agricultural business or international studies should consider a Ph.D. It grooms individuals to teach at the college level. A few Ph.D. topics are agriculture marketing theory, demand and production, and strategic management.
Career options
One may come across multiple job opportunities in the agricultural industry based on their qualifications. Careers in management and business include a sales and service representative, farm labor specialist, forest ecosystem manager, financial analyst, agricultural economist, and marketing specialist.
One could also look for opportunities in science and engineering. A few career options under this umbrella include food scientist, biological engineer, insect biologist, plant scientist, and irrigation engineer.
Career paths relating to food and biomaterials production include a farmer or rancher, poultry production manager, precision agricultural specialist, and forest manager. One could also consider work opportunities in education, communication, and governmental services.
